Crafted for True Expression

The Holton Legacy

Holton began with a musician's conviction that mechanics should never get in the way of artistry. Frank Holton, a former trombonist in John Philip Sousa's band, grew tired of slides that hesitated at the worst moments, so he created his signature trombone slide oil, "Electric Oil," built on the belief that reliability and response are essential to performance. Holton carried that same belief into instrument making, earning a reputation for musician-centered design for both youth development and the most discerning professional players.

In the 1950s, Holton partnered with Philip Farkas, principal horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, to develop the iconic Holton-Farkas models of French horns and mouthpieces, which helped define Holton's signature voice, a warm, deep, centered tone, and reinforced what Holton set out to deliver: smooth, effortless playing, even response, and a refined, customizable playing experience. True expression. It's that pursuit, the moment nothing holds you back, that Holton continues to deliver today.